In Consultation Paper ‘CP13/5: Review of the client asset regime for investment business’ here, the FCA proposed changes to the rules in CASS to address specific risks, to clarify the requirements firms must comply with and to enhance the client assets regime to achieve better results for consumers and increase confidence in financial markets.
The Policy Statement ‘PS14/9: Review of the client assets regime for investment business’ here, followed on from the consultation and summarised the feedback the FCA received, provided their response and set out final rules.
In the May 2015 issue of their Regulation Round-Up, the FCA reminded firms of the timescales for complying with the changes and, to help firms understand the changes, they published a recording of a CASS briefing held in January for CASS medium firms.
This is a useful video which you can watch here.
FCS Transitional Arrangements
Steve Bailey Compliance Update
As you will be aware the Financial Services Authority ceased to be and the Financial Conduct Authority took over the regulation of financial advice firms on 01 April 2013.
The FSA issued PS13/05 last week which includes updated rules and transition arrangements. The policy statement itself is 88 pages but the ‘appendix (3)’ that accompanies it is a mere 1990 pages so you must excuse us for not as yet absorbing every word. The document can be seen here.